Kenneth L. Feder. 2000 (Second Edition). The Past in Perspective. Mayfield Publishing, Mountainview, California. 504 pages, plus 47 pages of a glossary, references, and an index.
Finding a comprehensive yet current overview of prehistory is absolutely essential to the teaching of archaeology at the university level. That there are well-written, well-illustrated, and well-organized versions of such introductory texts seems almost like asking too much. Fortunately for us, Kenneth Feder of Central Connecticut State University has dedicated a substantial portion of his career to the presentation of readable, informative, introductory archaeological texts.
In addition to a consistent format and a strongly-spined organizational structure, Feder's The Past in Perspective includes a number of extremely useful features. Case studies and brief discussions of current debates are sprinkled throughout the text; and each chapter begins with a timeline. The content of the book includes two chapters on a history of the discipline, four chapters on evolution and prehuman history, and seven chapters on human cultural history and prehistory.
In addition to a consistent format and a strongly-spined organizational structure, Feder's The Past in Perspective includes a number of extremely useful features. Case studies and brief discussions of current debates are sprinkled throughout the text; and each chapter begins with a timeline. The content of the book includes two chapters on a history of the discipline, four chapters on evolution and prehuman history, and seven chapters on human cultural history and prehistory.
The final chapter considers the meaning of human history--and what it means that it is modern civilization that takes such a keen interest in our past.
Feder includes a substantive glossary, bibliography and index; and supplements for educators are available in the form of a teacher's manual, including suggested test questions, chapter overviews and sources for video, CDRom and Internet sites.
Feder includes a substantive glossary, bibliography and index; and supplements for educators are available in the form of a teacher's manual, including suggested test questions, chapter overviews and sources for video, CDRom and Internet sites.
